Blood lead, parental marital status and the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in elementary school children: A longitudinal study. (28th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Choi, Won-Jun; Kwon, Ho-Jang; Lim, Myung Ho; Lim, Ji-Ae; Ha, Mina
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 236(2016)
• Page Start: 42
• Page End: 46
• Publication Date: 2016-02-28
• Subjects: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder -- Lead -- Parental marital status -- Interaction -- Longitudinal; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.01.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the blood lead level and parental marital status that might influence the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in school-aged children. The participants in the survey included elementary school children, and they were followed up biennially. The participants' parents or caregivers were administered a questionnaire including ADHD rating scale. Among 2967 who were not suspected to have ADHD at baseline survey, 2195 children who took follow-up test for ADHD were evaluated. The incidence rate of suspected ADHD was 5.0% (107 cases) during the two years of the follow-up period. The geometric mean blood lead level was 1.56 μg/dL. Relative risk ratio for ADHD was estimated using logistic regression analysis. After adjustment for potential confounders, ADHD developed more frequently in children with blood lead levels of >2.17 μg/dL (highest quartile) (RR 1.552, 95% CI 1.002–2.403) and in children with a single parent (RR 1.805, 95% CI 1.002–3.254). The RR was 3.567 (95% CI 1.595–7.980) in children with relatively high blood lead levels (>2.17 μg/dL) from single-parent families, compared with those with low blood lead and a two-parent family. The ADHD risk in association with blood lead level was modified by family status. Highlights: Environmental factors may play a considerable role in susceptibility to disorder. There is a lack of longitudinal studies about the relationship between lead and ADHD. Lead exposure and parental marital status interact on the development of ADHD.